Posting the sane and insane news about the law and what otherwise strikes my fancy.
The opinions and commentary made by this author is solely his own. It does not reflect the opinion of any other individual or organization including the 83rd District Attorney's Office or Pecos, Brewster, Presidio or Jeff Davis Counties.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Annnd they're off!

Attorney Thomas Clark threw his name into the ring Monday morning, challenging Judge William Schroeder for the Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 position.

If elected to the Justice of the Peace post, Clark would hear criminal and civil cases, Class C misdemeanor cases and review warrant affidavits. The Justice of the Peace also presides preside over small claims civil suits, foreclosures, evictions, contract disputes and officiates marriages.

Clark graduated from New Braunfels High School in 1987 and Texas A&M University in 1991. Clark graduated from South Texas College of Law in Houston in 1996.

Clark chose law, following in his father’s footsteps.

His father, Judge Fred Clark, is a former Comal County Judge and Comal County Court at Law Judge.

Over the years, Thomas Clark has served as deputy tax assessor-collector for Harris County, Assistant District Attorney in Caldwell County and worked in the Bexar County Criminal District Attorney’s Office.

In 2002, Clark left the public sector and opened a private practice in New Braunfels on West San Antonio Street.

In contrast to his days working in criminal prosecution, Clark specialized in matters of civil and criminal defense.

Throughout his legal career, Clark said he tried over 100 jury trials and participated in the legal proceedings in over 45 courts throughout Texas in state, federal and municipal courts.

Clark has been a member of the Texas State Bar Association since 1997, and is a member of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, the Comal County Bar Association and has served as the youth exchange officer for the New Braunfels Rotary Club.

Clark’s main focus in his campaign is combating truancy.

“I believe one of the biggest challenges facing our community will be the number of young people that choose to abort their education and drop out of school,” Clark wrote in his announcement for candidacy. “Statistics show that dropout rates continue to rise despite efforts to enlist the community to embrace our disadvantaged youth and encourage them to continue to pursue an education.”